Service cabinet



G. R. CRAW SERVICE CABINET Filed Sept, 4

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR I W BY ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 4- 1,516,150

G. R. CRAW SERVI CE CABINET Filed Sept. 4 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVIENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 18, 1924.

UNITED STTES PATENT GEORGE E. CIR-AW, OF FORT \VAYNE, INDIANA.

SERVICE Application filed September To all 10710-721 it may con-0cm.

Be it known that I, Gnonon R. Cnaw, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Fort lVayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Service Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in service cabinets for the reception of supplies delivered by tradesmen, and the object of the improvement is to provide apparatus for receiving supplies which will prevent unauthorized removal of the supplies when deposited in the apparatus, and which will also admit of the reception of supplies in addition to previously deposited supplies.

These objects are accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings. in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a construction embodying the invention;

F ig. 2 is a cross-section of Fig. 1 on the line 2-2 thereof, there being also parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of Fig. l on the line 33 thereof;

Figs. t. 5, and 6 are diagrams illustrative of the various positions of the movable parts at corresponding stages in the operation of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing the construction of the bottom of the movable receptacle,

Fig. 8 is a. side elevation projected from Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a. fragmentary plan view of the stationary platform for the repository; and

Fig. 10 is a side elevation projected from Fig. 9. i

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in the drawings and designated thereon by corresponding characters.

The invention comprises essentially a repository, a movable receptacle for receiving articles and conveying them into the repository and two members for closing respectively the inner end and the top of the receptacle.

The repository consists of a cabinet 1 having a chamber 2 therein that extends horizontally from the front to the back 4, the front end of the chamber being closed CABINET.

4, 1923. Serial No. 660,675.

by a door 5. If so desired the cabinet may be constructed in the usual manneras a refrigerator in order that the chamber 2 may be maintained at a low temperature.

The movable receptacle consists of a drawer 6 positioned so as to slide from the back of the cabinet into the chamber 2 thereof, the sides 7 of the drawer being provided with grated openings to permit circulation of air therethrough. The outer end 9 of the drawer 6 has in connection therewith an inwardly protruding displacement block 10, and the bottom of the drawer is formed by a series of longitudinally disposed parallel rods 11 that are spaced apart and secured at their respective ends by corresponding cross bars 12 and 13. A roller 1st is provided at each end of the bar 12, which rollers bear upon the bottom,15 of the chamber 2, and the cross bar 13 is secured to the inner face of the outer end 9 of the drawer beneath the block 10. A rod 16 is arranged transversely at the bottom of the chamber near the rear end thereof, each end of the rod being held loosely in place by a corresponding bracket 17, the forward end 18 of which projects upwardly in the path of the corresponding roller 14.- so as to limit the outward movement of the drawer by obstructing the roller. In the lower part of the chamber 2 is fixed a horizontally disposed platform 19, the rear end of which has a series of down turned spaced fingers 20 with coresponding apertures 21 therebetween and through which the rods 11 of the drawer extend and move freely as the drawer is opened and closed. The platform 19 is spaced above the bottom 15 of the chamber sufficiently to admit of the free movement, beneath the platform, of the cross rod 12, the rollers 14: and the rods 11.

The two members for the movable receptacle consist respectively of a. sliding curtain 22 and a hinged lid 23. Each side of the curtain 22 extends into a groove 24 in the corresponding side 7 of the drawer, the groove extending horizontally in the inner face of the side of the drawer adjacent the upper edge thereof and continuing 1n a vertical course adjacent the inner end of the drawer to the bottom thereof, so that when in one extreme position the curtain will close the inner end of the drawer completely, and when in the opposite extreme position will completely close the top of the drawer, leaving the inner end of the drawer open and unobstructed. The lid 23 is hinged at its rear end to a plate 25 that is secured in a transverse position in the drawer to the sides thereof in a plane beneath the horizontal path of the curtain, the front end of the lid when in closed position being supported upon the upper end of the block 1.0. The hinges 26 for the lid 23 are located so that the lid may be swung upwardly to its open position only when the curtain is moved to its extreme position in which it closes the inner end of the drawer and leaves the lid 23 fully exposed. The front section 27 of the curtain, when moved so as to overlap the rear end of the lid 23, prevents the opening of the lid and it will therefore be understood that the opening of the lid, and, consequently, access to the receptacle, may only take place when the curtain completely closes the inner end of the drawer. This is an especial feature of the invention. A coordinate feature is the provision whereby the curtain may be moved into its position, in which the inner end of the drawer is closed, only when the drawer is withdrawn from the chamber 2 to its outermost limitation. This provision is accomplished by fixing}; to the inner end of the curtain a bar 28 having at each end thereof a finger 29, and placing a fixed angular guide 30 on the inner face of each sioe of the chamber. The horizontal branch 31 of each guide is ar ranged with its upper edge approximately in line with the top of the drawer, and when the curtain is positioned to close the top of the drawer, the fingers 29 on the bar 28 extend in a plane slightly above that of the guides, and therefore, the fingers 2-9 will pass above the guides as the drawer is moved into the receptacle, and the horizontal branches of said guides will prevent the curtain from closing the inner end of the drawer by obstructing downward movement of the fingers. The vertical branch 32 of each guide is so located as to admit downward movement of the fingers only when the drawer is in its outermost position. and when the curtain is in position in which the rear end of the drawer is closed, or partially closed, the vertical branches 32 of the guides prevent the inward movement of the drawer from its open position by obstructing the horizontal inward movement of said fingers. The guides project correspondingly from the sides of the chamber 2 sufiiciently to en gage the fingers 29, but not to such an eX tent as to interfere directly with the movement of the drawer.

In utilizing the invention, the cabinet is positioned in a room with its back to a door leading to the room so that access may be had to the drawer 6 when said door is open. and so the cabinet will prevent ingress through the door to the room. lVhen supplies are to be delivered, such for example, as a package of meat 38, or a bottle of milk 3d, the deliveryn'ian first opens the door to its outermost position; second, moves the curtains so a to expose the lid and close the inner end of the drawer; and third, opens the lid and deposits the package or bottle in the drawer. At this stage, it will be noted, free access is had to the movable receptacle through the top thereof while the receptacle is locked in open position because of the arrangement of the fingers 29 and the vertical branches of the guides 30, and also access to the chamber of the repository, through the drawer, is prevented because of the position of the curtain. After the supplies have been thus deposited in the movable receptacle, the deliveryman first closes the lid; second, moves the curtain to its position in which the top of the receptacle is closed thereby and the fingers 29 are raised to a plane above the guides; and third, moves the receptacle into its closed position. During the third operation the package or bottle becomes transferred from the rods 11, that form the bottom of the receptacle, onto the platform 19 in the repository. The displacement block 10 is so proportioned and arranged as to protrude into the chamber of the repository when the receptacle is in closed position so that the supplies will be moved thereby to a position on the platform away from its rear end. At. this stage of the operation the supplies are accessible for removal through the inner end of the receptacle when the door 5 of the repository is opened. In the event of a subsequent delivery of supplies. before such re moval, the receptacle is again opened, leaving previously delivered supplies sustained upon the platform in the repository. Upon moving the curtain so as to permit the opening of the lid, the rear end of the receptacle is closed by the curtain and the previously delivered supplies thereby become inaccessible through the receptacle. lVhen the additional supplies are moved onto the platform by the closing of the receptacle. as in the former instance, the previously deposited supplies are crowded forward on the platform by the incoming: new su 'iplies. The operation may be repeated until the repository becomes filled.

By constructing and operating; the invention as set forth. personal attendance upon the part of the purchaser. when supplies are delivered may be safely dispensed with. because. even though the receptacle is accessible. the repository is at all times inac cessible through the receptable when open. Thus pilferinnis circumvented.

What I claim is:

1. In a service cabinet for the reception of goods, a repository having a supporting; means in its bottom for goods received there in and a door for the chamber of the repository for the removal of the goods; a movable receptacle extending into the repository provided with means for closing the same, the bottom of the receptacle having supporting means for goods placed therein and extend ing movab-ly beneath the supporting means in the repository; an inwardly protruding displacement block in the outer end of the receptacle arranged so that the goods deposited in the receptacle will be automatically transferred therefrom onto the supporting means in the repository as the repository is closed by the receptacle; a hinged lid in the upper part of the receptacle controlling access thereto through the top of the receptacle; a movable curtain in connection with the receptacle arranged to close the inner end of the receptacle and expose the lid, or to conceal the lid and leave the inner end of the receptacle unobstructed, accordingly as the curtain is adj ustably positioned; angular guides projecting from the sides of the chamber in the repository, each of said guides having a horizontal and a vertical branch; means in connection with the curtain, engageable by the vertical branches of said guides when the receptacle is in open position and the curtain is moved into position to close the inner end of the receptacle to prevent inward movement of the receptacle, and engageable by the horizontal branches of said guides when. the curtain is positioned to close the top of the receptacle and the receptacle is moved from its outermost position, to prevent the curtain from being moved to its position wherein the inner end of the receptacle is closed; and means limiting the outward movement of the receptacle.

2. In a service cabinet for the reception of goods, a repository having a chamber therein and a door for the removal of goods from the chamber; a .n'iovable receptacle extending into the chamber provided with means for closing the same; a platform in the chamber overhanging the bottom of the receptacle; a displacement means in the forward part of the receptacle for the automatic transfer of goods from the receptacle onto the platform as the receptacle is closed, a lid controlling access to the receptacle when the receptacle is in its outermost position; a curtain movably arranged in the re cep-tacle to close the inner end thereof and expose the lid or to conceal the lid and leave the inner end of the receptacle unobstructed accordingly as the curtain is adjustably positioned; means to limit the outward movement of the receptacle; and means for holding the receptacle in its outermost position while its inner end is closed by the curtain and to prevent the curtain from being moved to expose the lid when the receptacle is moved from its outermost position into the repository 3. In a service cabinet for the reception of goods, a chambered repository including a door controlling the removal of goods therefrom; a movable receiving member for controlling the ingress of goods to the repository, said receiving member having an inlet opening and a second opening comn'iunicating with the chamber of the repository; a platform in the lower part of the repository; a supporting means for goods in the bottom of the receiving member and being movable beneath the platform; a displacement in the receiving member for moving goods from the supporting means in the receiving member onto the platform; a lid controlling the inlet opening of the receiving member; and a closing means controlling comn'iunication bet-ween the receiving memher and the chamber of the repository, and being operable to prevent opening of the lid when communication is open between the receiving member and said chamber.

4. In a service cabinet for the reception of goods, a chambered repository including a door controlling the removal of goods therefrom; areceiving member for cont-rob ling the ingress of goods to the repository, said receiving member having an inlet opening and a second opening communicating with the chamber of the repository; a lid cont-rolling the inlet opening of the receivin g member; and a closing means controlling communication between the receiving member and the chan'iber of the repository, and being operable to prevent opening of the lid when conmiunication is open between the receiving member and said chamber.

In a service cabinet for the reception of goods, a chambered repository including a door for the removal of goods therefrom; a movable receiving member extending into the chamber of the repository independent of said door; said receiving member having an inlet opening; a lid cont-rolling the inlet opening of the receiving member; and means controlling communication between the chamber of the repository and the receiving member operable to close communication therebetween and lock the receiving member in its outermost position, and to preventopening of said lid when moved to open communication between the said chamber and receptacle, and being inoperable to close communication between said chai'irber and receptacle when the receptacle is moved from its outermost position into the chan'iber.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE R. CRAlV. lVitnesses NIATILDA Mn'rriinn, VALll-IR Gr. BURNs. 

